Production of short paper rolls from long paper rolls



N. MARCALUS Aug. 4, 1953 PRODUCTION OF' SHORT PAPER ROLLS FROM LONG PAPER ROLLS Filed Feb. 16, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l. O V u. I n mw M V 7 f. l m mw K A (O M 1T Nl nu mm a. H 9D C Y E. .Mb .w M B b.m,l\\|.. m/mb Qn. b mb M UM m r ww w uw QB Wm. m. mf LI m, NN wm, m .m l1 M. Kb N|U l Q55 v R g Aug 4, 1953 N. MARcALus A 2,647,576

PRODUCTION OR SHORT PAPER ROLLS FROM LONG PAPER ROLLS Filed Feb. le, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 2 BWL/Wm Aug. 4, 1953 N. MARcALus 2,647,576

PRODUCTION OF' SHORT PAPER ROLLS FROM LONG PAPER `ROLLS Filed Feb. 16, 1949 5 Sheet-S-Sheel'. 3

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Aug. 4, 1953 N. MARcALus 2,647,576

PRODUCTION OF SHORT PAPER ROLLS FROM LONGPAPER ROLLS Filed Feb. 1e, 1949 y5 sheets-'Sheet 4 l IN VEN TOR. /V/c/,m As /VQ/Paa as A fr0/2ND@ Aug 4, l953 N. MARcALus 2,647,576

PRODUCTION OF SHORT PAPER ROLLS FROM` LONG PAPER ROLLS Filed Feb. 16, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

s /V/cwobs MARC/1L as A 7mm/fyi latented Aug. 4, 1953 ITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PRODUCTION OF SHORT PAPER ROLLS 15 Claims. l

This invention was developed in connection with the production of rolls of toilet paper of the familiar normal or standard width range from the much wider toilet paper stock produced by the paper mill.

Previously the long mill roll of the wider paper was processed in a machine whereby it was unwound and passed through a multiple slitter 'which longitudinally slit the work into a plurality of strips oi the normal or standard width. The machine then coiled these strips individually on the usual paper roll centers to provide the normal or standard length toilet paper rolls. The operation was continuous. The customary transverse perforations were made just prior to the slitting.

The above presented the problem that due to the soft nature of the paper and its low tensile strength which prevented eiective guiding, it was impossible to produce toilet paper rolls having the ends of the convolutions in exact radial alignment. The rolls were unattractive in appearance and tended to jam in the usual unrollers provided in bathrooms.

One of the objects of the present invention is to process the large and long mill roll of toilet paper to the small and short product rolls provided for the ultimate user, so that the edges of the various convolutions are exactly aligned radially to provide roll ends that are completely smooth and flat and without projecting convolution edges due to misalignment of the various convolutions.

According to the present invention the wide paper is unwound from the long mill roll, transversely perforated in the usual manner and then wound on an equally long paper roll center to provide a long roll that is as long as the mill roll, but which carries only the normal or standard toilet paper roll length of paper. The paper roll center may be made from the same stock as is customarily used, but must be as long as is necessary to carry the full mill width of paper. When this much paper is rolled on the paper roll center the paper is transversely severed and the top convolution on the long or work roll of paper is wet to make it stick and prevent unwinding. Then this long roll of toilet paper is transversely cut to provide the normal or standard length toilet paper rolls. A plurality o f the ultimate product rolls are produced from each long work roll. The transverse cutting of the long work roll is done by accurately Working equipment so as to provide truly right angular cuts respecting the rolls axis and with the cuts smoothly made. In this fashion the aforementioned object is attained, the product rolls produced having flat ends that are radially smooth and flush throughout and free from any projecting convolution edges due to misalignment of the convolutions. So far as is known a product of this character is new.

The practice of the above requires a machine for cutting the product rolls from the long work rolls of toilet paper, and which works at high production speeds and in an accurate manner. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide such a machine. This machine may have advantages for use in other industries than the one for which it has been specifically designed and this should be kept in mind in considering the following disclosure and claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the machine as it has been specifically designed for the purpose described. This machine represents what is now considered the best form of the invention. In these drawings the various figures are as follows: 4

Fig. l is a side view of the machine showing a support and feeder for the paper work roll and a relatively high speed endless band knife at the right hand or front end of the support and feeder;

Fig. 2 shows the details of wedges that are positioned at the back of the band knife at a position vertically aligned with the front end of the support and feeder;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken from the line 3 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. l shows the side of the support and feeder opposite its side shown by Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a front end view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows the end of the machine opposite the support and feeder;

Fig. 7 is a top View of the front end portion of the support and feeder shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a side View of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken from the line (5 9 in Fig. 8, and

Fig. l0 is a cross section taken from the line l-Hi in Fig. 8.

The support and feeder is for the long work roll of toilet paper which is rolled on the long paper roll center with the paper strip length equaling that of the ultimate product length but with its width equaling that of the mill roll. It includes a long horizontal shaft i that is `radially iixed by being journaled at axially spaced locations by rotary bearings 2 positioned by standards 3 3 which are xed to the plant oor or to a separate base, if desired.

Upstanding levers Il and 5 are xed to the opposite ends of the shaft I at right angles thereto and parallel relative each other, and the tops of these levers carry a long flat horizontal support 6 for the long work roll of mill width toilet paper. This support 6 is made slightly longer than the work roll. It is relatively narrow because the long work roll has only the diameter of the finished product rolls of toilet paper. The supp-ort 6 including its levers 4 and 5 and the shaft I may be swung back and forth about the latters axis whereby the levers and support are transversely reciprocative.

The front end of the support Ii carries elongated flexible belts 'I positioned in vertical planes by being looped over spaced end rollers 8 and 9 which are vertically journaled on the front end portion of the support 5. The opposing peripheries of these four rollers are rectangularly arranged to provide opposed straight belt spans that are parallel and extend longitudinally of the support so as to grip the diametric sides of the work roll. A plurality of back-up rollers I support the straight belt loop spans which grip the roll, and looping rollers II are positioned near the rollers 2 to engage the outsides of the belts and loop the belts around more than 180 of these rollers to enhance the belt friction between the belts and these rollers 9.

The rollers 8, I@ and II may be journaled by vertical cantilever shafts 3a, Ita and Ila, but the rollers 9 at the front end of the feeder are journaled by continuous shafts 9a, the upper ends of the latter being supported by arms I2. These shafts 9a are keyed to the rollers 9 and the lower ends of the shafts 9a may be rotated by right angle gearing I3 interconnecting them with a common horizontal driveshaft I4. Since both shafts 8a are thus rotatively interconnected, synchronous operation of the two belts I is obtained.

This feeding arrangement is particularly well illustrated by Fig. 9 which shows the work roll R on the paper roll center RC engaged and slightly flattened by the two parallel work engaging spans of the belts l, That is to say these loop spans are spaced together a little less than the diameter of the work they engage whereby the paper roll is compressed somewhat as represented. Thus the two belts 'I have good frictional engagement with the paper roll.

In addition to the above feeding arrangement for the rolls placed on the support 5, the bottom of this support is shown with a horizontal belt I5 running its full length. The front end o this belt I5 is looped over a roller I6 keyed to the shaft ifi while the rear end is carried by an idler roller I at the back end of the support 6. This belt I5 provides an additional frictional drive for the bottom of the roll and reduces the work required to be done by the belt Upstanding work roll guides I8 extend from the rear or receiving ends of the belts 'i back along the complete length of the support t. These guides serve to position the paper roll transversely of the support S throughout the roll portions not engaged by the relatively shorter feeding belts 'l at the front end.

A rotary electric motor I9 connected with a reduction gear drive 2@ are both mounted by standards 3a beneath the front end portion of the support and feeder. The upstanding lever 5 is provided with a longitudinal crosshead guideway 2l guiding a crosshead 22 journaled on a crankpin 23 of a disk crank 24 keyed to the front end of the reduction geared driveshaft 25 extending from the reduction gear drive 20. This driveshaft is parallel to and spaced above the shaft I.

The Xmotor I9 works through the reduction gear so that the driveshaft 25 revolves relatively slowly, as for example around sixty R. P. M. As it revolves it oscillates the lever 5 through the action of the levers crosshead guideway 2l and the crosshead 22 driven by the crankpin 23 of the disk crank 24 xed to the reduction geared driveshaft of the motor I9. Both the levers Il and 5 are firmly fixed to the shaft I and the latter is of large diameter so the levers d and 5 reciprocate in synchronisrn without undue flexure of the various parts. Therefore the support 5 reciprocates transversely at a relatively rapid rate.

The disk crank 24 has a periphery providing a cam 26. The lever 5 has a short transverse arm 5a projecting outwardly from it and a lever 21 is pivoted to this arm 5a at 28. This lever is positioned adjacent the periphery of the rotary plate cam 26 and journals a follower 29 for the periphery of this cam 2E. The plate cam 28 is shaped and oriented relative the crankpin 23 so that as the latter swings the lever 5 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5, the cam engages the follower 29 to momentarily thrust down the lever 21 during the interval the lever 5 is near and at the reciprccation limit in the left hand direction noted.

A sprocket chain 30 connects with and extends upwardly from the free end of the lever 21, loops around a sprocket 3l journaled at 32 to the lever 5, and then horizontally and reversely loops around a sprocket 33 journaled on the horizontal shaft III and then extends backwardly of the support 5 and connects with a block 34 which connects with one end of a helical tension spring 35 which then extends horizontally back along the support 6 with its free end anchored to the latter at 36. This tension spring 35 is designed to keep the sprocket chain 3E] elastically biased against the urge of the lever 21 carrying the follower 29 working against the spring bias on the periphery of the plate cam 2B. Each time the lever 5 reciprocates closely to its reciprocting limit previously mentioned the cam forces down the follower 29 so as to pull down on the chain 3i! and thus reciprocate the sprocket 33 journaled on the shaft I4. This functions to provide an intermittent drive for the shaft l synchronized as indicated. This drive is effected by the shaft I4 carrying a ratchet wheel 3l keyed to it adjacent the sprocket wheel 33 with the latter carrying a radial arm S8 supporting a panel 39 engaging the ratchet periphery of the ratchet wheel 3?.

The cam 2t is proportioned so that the feeding action slightly exceeds that required to feed forward an exact ultimate product length of the long toilet paper work roll. An abutment presently described is provided for engaging and stopping the end of the work roll when the exact length desired is fed beyond the end of the support B so it overhangs the latter, the various feeding belts slipping slightly respecting the roll of paper. That is to say, the arrangement is such that the belts l and I5 rotate forwardly at each feeding action a linear distance greater than the length of the ultimate toilet paper roll product with the long work roll advancing end engaging an abutment, the various belts then overdriving or slipping on the paper roll.

As the paper roll is thus fed forwardly intermittently and while the support is near or at its noted reciprocation limit, the front or overhanging end of the feeding roll is projected into the jaws 40 of a releasable clamp. These jaws are pivoted on a horizontal shaft 4| fixed to the front end of the support 6 and extending longitudinally from the latter so that the jaws 45 swing transversely respecting the paper roll Work. The jaws 45 are mechanically force biased to closed or clamping positions by having oppositely extending crossed operating levers 42 with their ends interconnected by a helical tension spring 43. These levers 42 may be strutted apart by a toggle Mi which may be cocked slightly beyond its dead center position to hold the jaws open and which permits the latter to snap shut when the toggle is tripped toward the pivot shaft 4|.

Operation of the abovejaw assembly is effected automatically. This is done by having the swinging pivot 45 of the toggle 44 engaged by the swinging end of a horizontal lever 46 fixed to a vertical rotary shaft 41 that is journaled by the support 6 near its front end. When this lever 46 is swung backwardly the toggle44 is cocked to hold the jaws 45 open and when the lever 46 is moved forwardly slightly it trips the toggle i4 so it snaps open and permits the jaws 45 to snap shut or to clamping positions.

Jaw opening or cooking motion of the toggle 44 is effected by having the lever 46 pivoted to a tension rod 48 extending transversely from it and with its end adapted for engagement with an abutment 49 that is fixed relative the reciprocation of the support 5. This is done by providing the rod 48 with a nut 59 and a compression buffer spring between it and the abutment 4Q. The rod 48 slides freely through the abutment 49 excepting for the engagement noted, so when the sup-port 6 is reciprocating toward the fixed abutment i9 no moving force is applied the lever 45. But the proportion of the rod 43 is such that on opposite reciprocation of the support 5 towards its reciprocation limit opposite that where the feeding action occurs, the motion of the rod 5S is halted by the abutment 49 so that as the support continues a slight forward motion towards the noted reciprocation limit the lever i5 is stopped and thus swung relative the support 5 so as to close or cock the toggle 44 and open the jaws 4G.

Closing of the jaws fl is effected by a lever 52 xed to the bottom end of the vertical shaft 41 which swings the lever 45. The levers 46 and 48 are fixed to the shaft 41 in the sense that the two levers must swing relative each other syn- 'chronously This lever 52 is provided with an abutment 53 on its swinging end and which is engaged by an adjustable bumper 5ft carried by the block 34 xed to the upper end of the sprocket chain 55 which powers the feeding device. The association is such that as the sprocket chain 35 reaches the end of its work feeding motion the bumper 54 engages the abutment 53, turns the shaft 41 and thus swings the lever 4E so as to kick the toggle 44 from its cocked position so that the compression spring 43 operates to snap the jaws 45 closed on the overhanging end portion of the paper roll that has just been fed forwardly.

Cutting of the paper roll is effected by an endless band knife 55 that is looped over the peripheries of two large wheels 55 that are vertically positioned by a housing 51 so that the band knife 55 travels vertically by the front or feeding end of the support and feeder 6. The sharp or front edge of the band knife 55 points in the reciprocating direction of the support and feeder 6 and 6 is located approximately intermediate the latters reciprocating limits. The knife edge points against the direction the feeder swings immediately after each feeding. operation.

The various parts of the machine should be positioned and timed so that the paper roll is fed forwardly in the manner described and its overhanging fed end then promptly clamped by the jaws 40, all while the reciprocating support 6 is out of alignment with the band knife sufliciently to permit the feeding to be completed Without striking the band knife. Immediately thereafter the reciprocating support 6 swings the paper roll against the cutting knife 55 and far enough beyond its back to sever the feed or overhanging end, and promptly after cutting is finished the jaws are pulled open in the manner previously described so that the cut roll of toilet paper in its final product length is freed and discharged. There is clearance for the knife between the clamp and support end as shown by Fig. 7. As that reciprocating limit is reached the support 6 starts to return rapidly with the motion throwing the product from the jaws fit. In the interest of operational certainty the jaws are provided with a knockout lever 58 that is pivoted to one of the jaws at 59 so that when it swings outwardly it knocks out the paper roll product. Knockout operation is effected by using a helical tension spring 65 for holding the knockout retracted and by providing the knock out lever with an operating bent lever 6l adapted to be engaged by a xed abutment 62 preferably buffered by being slidably mounted and provided with a Vhelical compression spring 63 between its head and the xed support which mounts it. This xed support 64 may be positioned by the frame 51 which, of course, is stationary and does not reciprocate. The parts should be arranged so that the knockout 58 operates just prior to arriving at the reciprocating limit, with the jaws 45 timed to open just previously to the operation of the knockout.

The abutment for stopping over-feeding of the advancing end of the toilet paper work roll is shown at 65 as comprising a smoothly finished plate arranged transversely to the advancing end of the work roll and adjustably positioned relative the end of the support 6 by a bracket 65 supported by the band knife frame 51. This abutment B5 is located at the reciprocation limit where work feeding occurs and is smoothly nished to permit relative transverse motion of the advancing work roll Without damaging the latter. With the smooth nish there is little chance for this since the work need not be made to jam too hard against the abutment, the various feeding belts frictionally slipping relative the work roll enough to prevent building up very much driving force and the amount of overfeeding being only adequate to obtain accurate results.

Adjustmentof the support 65 permits some adn justment of the exact product roll length desired but if material adjustment is needed it is conn sidered preferable to use a different cam 25 with a different riser 25a or to change the mechanical advantage of the various parts. But the adjustability of the support which permits slight adjustment of the plate or abutment S5 is very advantageous in effecting exact adjustment of the product length desired.

Deflection of the band knife 55 during the transverse cutting is prevented by the use cf back-up rollers 51 which engage the back of the band knife 55 above and below its` cutting span to positively prevent displacement of the band knife. These back-up rollers span the reciprocating path of the work roll and rigidly provide the reaction for the cutting force. These backup rollers 61 are shown carried by horizontal shafts 68 mounted by the frame 51. They span the reciprocative path of the feeder and Work roll.

Suitably shaped abrasive wheels 69 engage the opposite sides of the band knife front or sharp edge so as to continually sharpen it. These abrasive wheels 69 are shown journaled by blocks 10 suspended as pendulums by levers 15 from the top of the frame 51 with the levers 15 slightly deected from the vertical by the wheels 69 resting on the knife edges and with the blocks 1i! providing weight for forcing the wheel 59 against the opposite sides of the knife edge. A very nice adjustment of the sharpening pressure used may be obtained by the use of the helical tension springs 12 shown lightly biasing each lower end of each of the pendulum levers 1| away from the direction they swing by gravity. Adjustment of these springs either by adjusting the positions of their anchored ends or by substituting springs providing diiferent forces permits a nice adjustment of the sharpening pressure.

Although the feeding belts 1 nip a substantial amount of the front end of the work roll during the feeding operation and thus in conjunction l with the clamping jaws d steady the roll during cutting to assure an exactly right angular cut, there is some chance for inaccurate cutting as the very last end of the work roll is reached so that perhaps only an inch or so of its length is n engaged by the belts 1. This trouble may be avoided by forwarding a succeeding long work roll of the toilet paper directly behind the advancing roll so that the advancing end of the former abuts or jams against the trailing end of the remnant. The over travel of the belts 1 in conjunction with the stopping of the remnants advancing end by the abutment 65 aids in this jamming effect.

As shown by Fig. 1 a feeler 13 is arranged to project up through the support by way of a suitable slot offset from the long horizontal belt l5. Deflection of this feeler is effected by the toilet paper rolls, and by positioning the feeler at or near the entrance of the channel formed by the two belts 1 it becomes possible to stop the motor I9 by placing a relay in its power circuit and using a pilot circuit for this relay and conv trolled by a limit switch 14 worked by the feeler. The circuit details are not illustrated because conventional arrangement may be used. But the location and use of the feeler 13 in the present machine is considered new. This feeler is illustrated as a two arm level' fulcrumed at 15 with one arm vformed upwardly for engagement and depression by the work rolls of paper and which is located in their traveling path over the support 6 and at a location adjacent the back ends of the feeding belts 1. The other arm of this lever is bent downwardly and provided with a counterweight 1S for biasing its ilrst mentioned end upwardly, and this other or weighted end of the lever works the operator of the limit switch 14. Preferably this limit switch 14 is of the so-called micro-limit switch type requiring very little operating force so that the feeler 13 may be lightly made and rather lightly biased to its operative position. Thus material interference with the travel of the work rolls is avoided. Y

-With the above arrangement, whenever the person in charge of the machine fails to place a succeeding roll for closely trailing after a preceding roll, the moto-r I9 is de-energized as the trailing end of the preceding roll leaves the feeler 13 so that the upturned end of the latter rises under the urge of the counterweight 15. Operation restarts immediately upon another roll being placed in position to again depress the feeler.

As shown by Figs. 2 and 3 a set of parallel, laterally aligned pin wedges 11 are positioned by a support 11a xed to the band knife frame 51. These pin wedges 11 are lpositioned parallel the back or dull edge of the band knife 55 with their pointed or wedge ends pointing towards the band knifes back and quite close thereto. The pointed edges of the wedge pins should be as close as is possible without engagement with the back of the band knife. These wedge elements are located between the back up rollers 61 and so as to be in the reciprocating path of the toilet paper work roll as it is reciprocated by the reciprocating support and feeder S. These wedge elements function to wedge the cut edge portion of the roll from the supply portion so as to supply cutting relief for the band knife 55 by preventing pinching of the latter by the severed paper roll sections.

The band knife 55 may be powered by a suitable electric motor 18 working through a belt drive 19 powering the bottom one of the band knife wheels 5t. The motor should be capable of driving the band knife at a linear speed high enough to cleanly sever the paper roll in spite of the latters high cutting speed rate resulting from the relatively rapid reciprocating rate of the support and feeder.

With the machine constructed as described so far some waste may be caused by the uncontrolled cutting action. If the long roll of the paper is simply placed in the machine, the first short roll cut oif is of full product length but must be discarded because one of its ends is untrimmed, and more may be cut from the trailing end of the long roll than is necessary "or trimming purposes. The same thing may happen as succeeding rolls are fed into the machine. Using long rolls of toilet paper of 681/2" length, only 14 product rolls 4% long are obtained by the uncontrolled cutting action. It should be possible to get l5 of these 41/2" long rolls from the 68% long roll and still leave M2" at each end for trimming. The following features are incorporated so that the full possible 15 rolls are automatically obtained in the case of the specific instance described. The same principles may be used regardless of the lengths involved.

The lever 21 that reciprocates the chain Sii is provided with an oppositely extending relatively short lever which moves with the lever 21. The levers 21 and 28 form a two-armed lever pivoted at 28. The short lever arm 8G is pivoted to a, connecting rod 8i that extends upwardly along the arm 5 to a reciprocating latch member 82 guided on the upper portion of the arm 5. This latch member 82 is thus reciprocated by the lever 21 continuously.

A latch lever 83 is pivoted to the lever 5 at 84 below the latch member 52 and so as to eX- tend theretowards. This latch lever 83 has a latch end 5 biased by a tension spring 85 to latch beneath the latch member B2 and it is held away from its latching position by a cam follower 31 which rides on the periphery of a rotary cam 88 journaled at 89 to the lever 5.

9 This cam 88 has a re-entrant portion 90 into which the follower .8l drops when the cam 88 is properly indexed yand when this occurs the latch end 85 latches beneath the latch member 82. This action prevents full return of the lever 2l to its normal upper extreme as the cam 25 turns to permit this and it therefore shortens the stroke of the chain 353 and hence shortens the Afeeding .action of the various feeding belts previously described and which frictionally engage the paper roll in the feeder.

vIndexing ofthe cam 88 is effected by it being driven by .a ratchet wheel 9i positioned for engagement by a pawl 92 carried by the crosshead 22. Each time the crankpin 23 turns once the pawl 92 .rises and rotates the cam 88 a distance determined by the number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel Si. The cam 38 is suitably restrained `frictionally so that it stays in position after each indexing action. Depending on the number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 9i the feeding action goes through a cycle of intermittent feeding moving the long work roll forwardly each time a distance equal to the length of product desired yand with the cycle terminating or starting by a shorter distance feeding as the re-entrant portion 9d permits the cam follower 8l to be released enough for the latching end 85 of the latch lever 83 to latch beneath the latching member 82 and effect the shorter stroke of the chain 3U.

In the case of the paper work rolls and product rolls of the lengths specifically exemplified I6 teeth are provided on the ratchet wheel 9|. This permits l normal feeding actions and a 16th short or trimming feeding action. Therefore each advancing end of each long paper roll is trimmed off by a short cut the length of which is determined by the amount the return of the chain 39 is limited.

In commercial work it is impractical to make all of the long work rolls of exact length so it is desirable to vary the length trimmed off. Therefore. a horizontal slide bar 93 slides beneath the working top of the feeder in guideways Sie. The back end of this bar 93 has `an adjustably positioned upstanding abutment 95 which may be pushed with the bar against the backend of the long paper rolls as they are placed cn the feeder with their front ends contacting the back ends of preceding rolls. The front end of the bar 93 supports Ia forwardly projecting wedge bar 95 that is pivoted to the bar 93 at 91 to swing vertically and is biased upwardly by a tension spring 98. The wedge front of this bar rides beneath the latch member *82 and swings up and down as the latter reciprocates. The latch end 85 of the latching lever 83 is adapted to snap beneath this wedge bar Sii whereby the latter adjusts the length of the short trimming stroke depending on the longitudinal position 'of the wedge bar and hence its effective thickness. The further forward the wedge bar is the more it restricts the return stroke of the chain Se and the farther back it is the less it restricts this return.

The machine is set by moving the slide bar 93 back and forth while measuring the feeding distance obtained during the trimming feed. With the toilet paper long rolls described this distance is babout 2 because the paper centers RC project somewhat beyond the end of the rolls. Then the abutment is adjusted on the bar 93 so that when the front end of a long roll of perfect length engages the rear end -of a preceding roll located lilV where its release of the feeler 73 has stopped it, this abutment will engage the back end of the roll cf perfect length. The opposing ends of the roll centers will interengage but the abutment is designed to engage only the rolled paper. A screw 95a is `used to lock the abutment to the bar 93 in its proper position.

In the illustrated machine each preceding roll clears the feeler is and stops when d more cuts are needed to finish the cutting into all the product rolls. With the machine set as described, the attendant next places a new long roll in the feeder and Ypushesit forwardly while pushing the abutment 95 with it until this rolls front end engages the back end of Ithe preceding roll and also the fceler lf3 so as to start the feeder. This is done quickly so that the abutment is proporly positioned before the feeding starts to move the ,preceding roll. If the newly placed roll is also of perfect length this will return the wedge bar to its originally selected position, but it will not do this otherwise. If the new roll is a little short the wedge bar 96 will move further forwardly and will rcause a shorter trimming feed and if this roll is a little long the opposite will occur.

As soon as the feeler is depressed the feeder again starts and completes the last 4 of its normal feeding movements, whereupon the cam 8-8 indexes its re-entrant portion with the follower S'l so that the short trimming feed occurs and trims the front end of the new roll, after which the feeder feeds with the `first l1 of its fteen normal feedings and the feeder stops ready to go through another cycle when lanother knew long roll is placed in it.

I claim:

1. A machine for cutting long work into short products and including a cutting tool, a transversely reciprocating work support having a front end reciprocating transversely beyond the front and back of said'tool and adjacent the latter, and an intermittently operating feeder provided with long work engaging means having an endless unidirectional path of travel at all times relative to said support for intermittently feeding the long work longitudinally forwardly on said support and synchronized respecting the latter for feeding action only when said support is in front of said tool, whereby to successively thrust short work lengths over said support end 4for cutting into short products by reciprocation with said support and against said tool.

2. A machine as dened by claim l with said support carrying a clamp beyond its front end with clearance therebetween for said cutting tool and with said clamp provided with an automatic operator synchronized with said support and said feeder to 'close at the end of said feeding action and open when said support approaches its reciprocation limit back of said tool.

v3. A machine as defined by claim 1 with said support carrying a clamp beyond its front end with clearance therebetween for lsaid cutting tool and with said clamp provided with an automatic operator-synchronized with said support and said feeder to close at the end of said feeding action and open when said support approaches its reciprocation limit back of said tool, with said clamp having va work knock-out automatically operating upon opening of said clamp.

d. `In a machine for cutting a relatively long mill rollof tissue paper into relatively short rolls, successively, a cutting tool for severing said short rolls from said mill roll and having a definite cutting path, a transversely reciprocating mill roll support for movement through and out of said path to effect severance of a mill roll carried by said support into said short rolls, said support having an intermittently operated feeder provided with long mill roll engaging means having an endless unidirectional path of travel at all times relative to said support for feeding said mill roll longitudinally of said support and towards said cutting path and being effective to position the leading end section of said mill roll a sufficient distance beyond said cutting path to constitute a short roll for severance from said mill roll by said tool upon movement of said support through said cutting path, said feeder being synchronized relative to the reciprocation of said support to conne said feeding of said mill roll to a period solely when said support is out of said cutting path, whereby, to preclude engagement of said tool with said mill roll during said feeding and movement of said feeder relative to said mill roll during said severance.

5. A machine as defined by claim 1 with said feeder including feeding surfaces frictionally engaging the works side and moving a distance greater than the desired feeding distance at each feeding action and with a fixed abutment for the advancing work end to limit the work feeding distance to that desired and adapted for transverse sliding action between it and said work end, said feeding surface being long enough to engage simultaneously the trailing and advancing ends of successive pieces of work to steady the front piece as it shortens by said two ends pressing together.

6. A machine as defined by claim l with said feeder including feeding surfaces frictionally engaging the works side and movingY a distance greater than the desired feeding distance at each feeding action and with a fixed abutment for the advancing work end to limit the work feeding distance to that desired and adapted for transverse sliding action between it and said work end, said feeding surface being long enough to engage simultaneously the trailing and advancing ends of successive pieces of work to steady the front piece as it shortens by said two ends pressing together, said feeder having a controlling limit switch adapted to stop its feeding action and with an operator projecting into the path of the work feeding on said support and adapted for opera tion by work at a position at the front of said feeding surfaces, whereby to stop said feeding action when there is no work piece following a piece engaged by said feeding surfaces.

'7. A machine for reciprocating and intermittently feeding work, said machine including a lever having a work support on its swinging end and a rotary work feeder for engaging and feeding work on said support, a rotary driveshaft spaced from said Work feeder and connecting with said lever through a mechanical movement converting rotary to reciprocatory motion, a rotary cam turned by said driveshaft a lever transversely pivoted to said support lever with a follower for said cam connected therewith, said cam being contoured and oriented respecting said movement to engage said follower when said lever is at a reciprocation limit, a ratchet wheel geared to said feeder, a swinging pawl for said ratchet, a chain connecting said swinging pawl with said follower lever, and means for mechanically biasing said pawl to swing reversely from the direction said chain swings it.

8. A machine as defined by claim 7 with said support equipped at its front end with a work clamp having open and closed positions and spring biased to one position and moved to its other position by a toggle adapted to hold it there when this toggle is closed, and with a member fixed to said toggle and connected to a stationary anchor to pull closed said toggle when support moves away from said anchor, and with an actuator for breaking open said toggle and actuated by said chain.

9. A feeder for longitudinally feeding rolls of soft paper and including laterally spaced belts having oppositely spaced straight sections ar ranged substantially parallel for frictionally engaging the opposite sides of said rolls, and with means for driving said belts so said sections travel in the same direction, said belts carried by a transversely reciprocating support and with said means synchronized with said supports motion for operation only when near one of the reciprocation limits thereof.

l0. A machine as dened by claim 1 with said feeder having means for controlling its feeding to a shorter trimming distance after predetermined successions of normal feedings.

l1. A machine as defined by claim l with said feeder adapted to feed a shorter trimming distance after predetermined successions of normal feedings, and with an aduster for controlling the extent of said distance and a controller for engaging the long work at its rear end when said work is first placed in said feeder and with said controller adapted to adjust said adjuster.

l2. A machine for cutting long work into short products and comprising a feeder operating intermittently for longitudinally feeding said worl; intermittently and a cutter for intermittently cutting the work after each feeding thereof by said feeder, the latter having a control adapted to cause it to feed through cycles of intermittent feedings terminated by a shorter trimming feeding for the advancing ends of succeeding work pieces.

13. A machine as defined by claim 12 with Said control including an adjuster for varying its trimming feeding distance and a device for operating said adjuster variously depending on the position of said device and with the latter adapted to contact the backs of uncut work pieces when they are placed in the machine.

14. A machine for cutting long rolls of wide strip into short rolls of narrow strip and including, in combination, a feeder for longitudinally feeding the long rolls, means for intermittently actuating said feeder through cycles of a predetermined number of feeding distances with interposed shorter feedings, said means including an adjustable regulator for ',said shorter feedings, a control for stopping the action of said means and responsive to an operator positioned in the path of said long rolls in said feeder to stop said means when not engaged a long roll in said feeder, an adjuster for said regulator, a device for adjusting said adjuster and including a part for engaging the back end of a long roll in said feeder with its front end engaging the back end of a partially fed long roll in front of it in said feeder with said part gauging the adjustment, and means for transversely cutting the long rolls at a fixed station at the front of said feeder.

l5. A machine as defined by claim 1 including, fixed bearing means, a yoke provided with relatively xed upstanding levers having their upper ends connected to said support and their lower ends pivoted to said bearing means, an eccentrcally operated mechanism connected With at least one of said levers and effective for rocking said yoke and thus oscillate said support rela.- tive to said tool.

NICHOLAS MARCALUS.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Connelly May 3, 1938 Number Re. 20,7 1 1 Number 14 Name Date Madden Mar. 24, 1896 Sexton Nov. 26, 1907 Davis Aug. 23, 1910 Heldmann Feb. 24, 1914 Giles May l2, 1925 Rau Nov. 17, 1931 Van Berkel Feb. 14, 1933 Blosser et al Dec. 3, 1935 Hartsock et al Aug. 10, 1943 Pease Jan. 16, 1945 

